Weekend Stash update

I mentioned that I took a trip to London on Saturday and went to Libertys - but I didnt get a chance to show you what I bought.... there is some Kaffe there and a bit of flea market fancy, plus a beautiful bag!!These are going into the stash for the big handpieced project I wuld like to do , from a Kaffe fasset book, but I am not quite sure which one yet!

Sunday was bad weather here again just for a change and a friend had asked me to make a baby quilt for a new addition to her step family in New York. So I raided the stash and came up with a gingham/soldier cot quilt backed with Ikea houses!

It was completed in half a day- I am getting better and quicker! She was delighted with it and it wll soon be winging its way across the pond.

Today I have just received my copy of Feathering the Nest by Brigitte Giblin, published by Quiltmania, all the way from France. It is a beautiful book, first brought to my attention by Katy .  This is the link to Brigitte's blog.

I am going to have a lazy day today, and if I mean IF the sun comes out I will be off down to the beach.

Heather.x

Saturday Summary on a Sunday ....

Well, yesterday was a lovely day out in London, starting with the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy. Very interesting, amongst my favourote pieces were those by Tracy Emin, Paula Rego, Joe Tilson  and Gillian Ayres. There were 2 beautiful woodcut prints  on Japanese paper by Nana Shiomi. 

Which leads me on nicely to the Okinawa day at Spitalfields which was my next point of call. These southern islands of Japan have a dialect and type of food of their own- they performed Aisa dancing, Okinawan folk music and a display of karate. The atmoshere was wonderful, with food available and a tea ceremony to watch or take part in.

As I had a little bit of time left I headed to Libertys- fabric calling! 

The flags of every nation are displayed down Regent Street in preparation for the Olympics.

Of course, I couldn't resist a few fabrics for my stash- these you will have to wait for in the next blog!!
At the moment I am making a baby quilt for  a friend to send to New York for her step grandson-
watch this space!

TTFN x

Watch the Birdie!

My latest accquisition has been a heavy duty staplegun- yes I do know how to have fun! So........
I spent a day, when I should have been sitting at the beach basking in glorious sunshine, making up canvas pictures with the old frames purchased from boot sales with fabric from Ikea.(sun failed to make an appearance until late this afternoon and the wind was blowing a hooley!

Help-the birds are taking over!

Cute though, dont ya think?

Then I did a bit more of my Hexi tote bag-

Oops- got my toes in wearing my felt slippers!

Off to London on Saturday for Okinawa day at Spitalfields- will post some pictures when I get back.

TTFN 

Hx

On the plus side....domestic bliss!

Well it has been a busy blustery saturday, hence I spent time clearing the garden in front of my garage which had become a little bit overgrown and a rubbish tip for passers by! !12 bins of garden rubbish later and 3 trips to the tip, I have time to get on with a few projects. But first, a lovely picture of sunrise at 5am this morning!

With the chores out of the way, I did a bit more of the plus quilt which I have been meaning to do for a while-it is in Domestic Bliss by Moda.

A little hand sewn project for tv watching is the hexi tote bag I am doing form the book Natural Patchwork by Suzuko Koseki. 

I made a lot of these on the train to London last week when I ent up to work for Crisis for the afternoon. 

And finally, this week is Lymington Ars week and an artist  friend of mine was exhibiting in town. I was lucky enough to nab a print of one of her paintings called Ducks! 

Just watched a good film-Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close- very moving story about a child who loses his father in 9/11. Need a few tissues for this one!

TTFN

Heatherx

Hearty Winner!

As promised, a picture of my beautiful heart from the very talented Cathy at Potter Jotter. I was very lucky to be one of her giveaway winners. Her potting has been blogged very nicely over at Textile Treasury

by Lynne -go and see the pictures of all the wonderful things Cathy makes! 

My knitting is progressing nicely, partly thanks to the awful weather that keeps folk indoors!

It is looking good.... I need to have it finished for when my daughter returns from South Africa in August!

And now, the little quilt I was making last week- now bound and finished:

Bindings are improving- I need to become a little more adventurous in my machine quilting now that I have got a little more confidence! ( until I look at some of the amazing quilts around on the blogs) . I am always being inspired and have become slightly addicted to Pinterest as it means that I dont have to rely on memory so much!I can jsut pin things I love and go and browse for inspiration! 

And finally- a play mat/quilt that I am hoping to finish this week- I plan on doing some hand quilting on this one!

Its back to work for me ....

TTFN x

Thank you....

Cathy , from Potter Jotter, has very kindly awarded me the Sunshine award.  I always go blank when I have to tel you things about myself!  Here goes- I love travelling and have visited all 5 continents! I read about 2 books per week- would be lost without them , but the big question is "do I buy a kindle?" I have a daughter who teaches textiles and a son who speaks Japanese! I hated sewing at school- I once stuck pins in the sewing teachers handbag because she used to pick on me! My mum used to work for Max Bygraves and Lawrence Olivier! I went swimming in the sea last week! Without a wet suit! I will nominate a few of the lovely blogs I follow , but understand if they dont want to take part: Loo from Jumbes and pompoms Francine from Patchwork and lace Brandy Lindsey Anne at marmalade and catmint There are others but they have already been nominated! Back soonx

Going green.....

Having made a great lap quilt yesterday for  my friends birthday, I felt a pressing need to repeat the deed and make another, in more Westminster fabrics! A green selection happened to be the in the stash from an Etsy purchase a few months ago, so here is the completed top. I need to find a suitable backng for this little baby!

Full reveal on the gift made yesterday now that the binding is on

My first attempt at proper binding worked out well- I have conquered that fear now! 

Back to the knitting .......

H.x